“Nothing of consequence. Now, where shall we begin the tour? The guest wing?”

“Why won’t you tell me?” He continued to question her.

“Tell you what?”

“What you were doing,” he replied, slightly annoyed at her avoidance.

“Must you know everything that I do in the privacy of my own rooms?” she asked, now irritated herself.

A hurt look ran across his features before he straightened his shoulders and said stoically, “Of course, madam. Forgive me for intruding on your privacy. Shall we?”

He opened the door to the hall and she stepped through, noticing that he looked steadfastly over her head and refused to look at her face.

“Fitzwilliam,” she said softly. He finally looked down when she put her hand on his arm and met her worried expression. “Have I hurt you?”

He released a breath and had a moment of struggle with his pride, but then decided he would risk speaking to his wife. “Forgive me, Elizabeth. You have every right to privacy. It is only my overzealousness to be close to you that wants to know everything, and I admit it stung when you did not want to tell me.” He shook his head. “It is a very strange thing—being in love with a woman.”

He looked at her and she felt something inside her soften a bit further.

“I want to give you everything, share everything with you. I have never been in such a situation before. I’m afraid I do not always handle it properly.,” he said.

“I think you handle it beautifully most of the time,” she said, and reached up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I apologize for being thoughtless. I did not realize your intent.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. I invaded your rooms, not the other way round.”

“Nevertheless,” she said. She placed her hands on his chest and played with the lapels of his jacket. Did she feel his heart speed up beneath her hand? “Dearest, can you keep a secret?” There was definitely a quickening beneath her palm now.

“Of course.”

She looked around the deserted hallway to ensure they were alone before speaking quietly. “I was trying to look at my walk.”

“Your walk?” He looked utterly confused.

“Yes. I felt like I was walking differently and I wanted to see if it was noticeable to others. That is all.”

“Why would you be walking diff —” He stopped and looked at her flushed face and downcast eyes. “I see. It seems I have more to apologize for today. My intrusion now seems doubly rude. You were only trying to examine the damage I caused and then I had the nerve to question you.” He shook his head in disgust and looked away. “Forgive me, my love. I will not intrude again.”

“You are forgiven,” she said, smiling sweetly at the look of relief on his face.